Consequences of Atheism Part 2B – Romans 1:26(b) – 27

Introduction

We saw in the last message how atheism leads to one moving from suppressing the truth about God in unrighteousness, to refusing to honor God and give thanks to Him, to worshipping false gods, to being given over by God to be fully controlled by the desires of their hearts and ultimately to sexual immorality, one of which is homosexuality. Once you suppress the truth about God, it is a slippery slope into hell and eventually the lake of fire. In this message, we will see how Paul describes explicitly what he means by homosexuality.

Homosexuality

Romans 1:26-27 (ESV Strong’s)

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

In verse 26(b) above, Paul says that some of the women among those people who have been given over by God to be fully controlled by the shameful desires of their hearts, exchange natural relations for those relations that are contrary to nature. According to the Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament (G-ELex NT), the greek word translated here as natural means being in accordance with the basic order of things in nature. According to the Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary (CWSB), the word means natural as established by God. The greek word translated here as relations, means a state of intimate involvement with a person (G-ELex NT). According to Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (ANLEX), it means sexual use. Therefore, the word “natural relations” means sexual relationship as established by God in nature. It means natural sexual relationships among people. Now, Paul is saying that some of their women exchanged natural sexual relationships with sexual relationships that are contrary to nature.

In verse 27, Paul also says that some of their men, likewise, gave up or departed from, or abandoned (G-ELex NT) their natural sexual relationships with women and were consumed with desire for one another. That means they had strong sexual desires among themselves as men for one another. In other words, these men, instead of having strong natural sexual desires for women, as established by God, they instead had unnatural sexual desires for other men like themselves.

Paul calls this act of homosexuality a shameful act. Paul concludes verse 27 by saying that these men who do these shameless acts, suffer in their person the penalty of their error. In other words, there is a penalty for those who practice homosexuality. Paul does not say what this penalty is. Therefore, homosexuality is not something to be celebrated but to be avoided, repented of and rejected.

In Conclusion

As I indicated in my introduction, Paul describes the sin of homosexuality very clearly and explicitly to a point that only those who continue to suppress the truth, can continue to deny that it is a sin. The wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Once you suppress the truth, you then refuse to honor God and give thanks to Him, then you start worshipping false gods, which include self worship, then God hands you over to be fully controlled by the desires of your heart, then that leads to sexual immorality, which among others leads to homosexuality. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. To honor God includes obeying Him and practising homosexuality does not honor God who call this practice an abomination (Lev. 18:22, 20:13). Failure to honor God brings judgement upon oneself.

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